John
16:29-23
Jesus'
disciples said: "See! now you are speaking clearly, and you are not
speaking in hard sayings. Now we know that you know all things, and that you do
not need that anyone should ask you anything. Because of this we believe that
you came forth from God." Jesus answered them: "So you believe at
this moment? See! the hour is coming--it has indeed come already--when each of
you will be scattered to your own homes, and you will leave me alone. And yet I
am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have spoken these things to you
that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have much trouble. But
courage! I have conquered the world."
Food
for thought!
There
is a strange light here on how the disciples finally surrendered to Jesus. They
suddenly leapt into full belief because they realized that Jesus did not need
to ask any man anything. What did they mean? Back in Jn. 16:17-18 we find them
puzzled by what Jesus had been saying. Beginning in Jn. 16:19 Jesus begins to
answer their questions, one by one, without asking the disciples what these
questions were. In other words he could read their hearts like an open book; he
could tell their tales; he could read their minds. When they discovered this
capacity in Jesus, they surrendered: "Now we know that you know all
things, and that you do not need that anyone should ask you anything. Because
of this we believe that you came forth from God."
But
Jesus was a realist. He told them that, in spite of their belief, the hour was
fast coming when they would desert him. Let me repeat this: despite their
faith, the disciples would desert Jesus! Does it sound familiar? So, we
shouldn’t feel so bad and beat ourselves up so much, when our faith is
wavering. It happens to God’s people. It has been said, “It is when you are
cherished by God that you become significant to Satan.” When we step into faith,
we’re stepping into a fight, and the enemy will work in our circumstances and
cause us to doubt as he did, and does, with the disciples of Jesus. The enemy
will try and get us to assess our situation and raise the white flag of
surrender.
That
said, there here perhaps the most extraordinary thing about Jesus. He knew and
knows the weakness of his people; he knew and knows their failure; he knew and
knows that they would let him down in the moment of his direst need; and yet he
still loved them; and what is even more wonderful, he still trusted them, and
still sent them to represent him.
Do
you remember this one:
16
But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had
designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were
doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying,
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe
all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age.”
(Mt 28:16-20).
The
Lord loves us even when our faith is failing!
Jesus
knew men at their worst and still loved and trusted them. For us, it is quite
possible to forgive someone and, at the same time, to make it clear that we are
not prepared to trust that person again. But Jesus said: «I know that in your
weakness you will desert me; nevertheless I know that you will still be
conquerors.» Never in all the world were forgiveness and trust so combined.
What a lesson for us! Jesus teaches us how to forgive, and how to trust the
wo/man we have forgiven.
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